Graduates should arrive Lower Sproul Plaza by 6:30 P.M. Graduation day instructions for graduates will be posted here as soon as they are available.​

RSVP for Commencement

To participate in Berkeley Social Welfare's Commencement and have your name listed in the program, you must RSVP by Friday, March 15, 2019. When you RSVP you will also be able to:

Let us know of any special accommodations needed for you or your guests.

Provide any suggestions you have for student speakers and/or a commencement keynote speaker.

Click on the button below to access the Commencement registration RSVP form:

Guests Walking with You

Graduating students may bring up to two (2) family members or special guests up onto the stage to walk with them in the commencement ceremony. If you wish to have someone (family member, partner, child, or other loved one, etc.) join you in the walk across the stage, we ask that you please follow these important guidelines so the process can work smoothly:

You MUST indicate in your Commencement RSVP if you will have guests walking with you. You may ONLY have up to two (2) guests walk with you, and they must have a ticket in order to be admitted to the auditorium.

Guests walking with you will also have to sit with you in the auditorium for the entire duration of the ceremony.

They will also march in with you during the procession. Someone will collect their tickets at the door as you all process into the lobby.

There will be a photo op section at stage left, as you walk off the stage after receiving your scroll.

Commencement Tickets

Ticketing for 2019 Commencement will be handled directly by Cal Performances. Our Commencement Ceremony is a private, ticketed event and all attendees must have a ticket to be admitted to Zellerbach Hall, including babies and small children. This is a Cal Performances policy and there are no exceptions.

No one will be admitted into the Auditorium without a ticket, except graduates in cap and gown. Graduates dressed in cap and gown do not need a ticket for themselves.

Complimentary Tickets for Graduates

Each graduate who RSVP'd for Commencement will automatically receive two (2) free tickets for guests.

Free tickets will be available for pickup in person from the Front Desk in 120 Haviland Hall starting Monday, May 6; please bring your Student ID. You may pick up your two free tickets in person during regular business hours by 12:00 p.m. Friday, May 17. At that time, any unclaimed free tickets will be transferred to Cal Performances for sale at the Box Office.

Additional Tickets for Purchase

Cal Performances will sell tickets for Commencement for $10 each starting Monday, April 8, 2019 at 12:00 pm.

From April 8 to April 30, you may purchase up to four (4) tickets from Cal Performances.

Starting May 1, all remaining unsold tickets will be available for purchase from Cal Performances up until the day of the ceremony, or until they sell out, whichever comes first.

The Cal Performances Ticket Office will sell tickets online via the tickets.berkeley.edu website; over the phone at 510-642-9988; and at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office (Tues.-Fri. 12pm-5:30pm; Sat.-Sun. 1pm-5pm) as well at Zellerbach Hall on graduation day, 5pm-7pm.

Official Cal Regalia and Graduation Supplies

Graduates may purchase caps and gowns, along with other graduation gear, at the ASUC Student Store in MLK Union, and/or FallRush Berkeley located at 2480 Bancroft Way. You can also place your regalia order directly with the Cal Student Store.

The ASUC-sponsored "MyGrad" event takes place April 4-6 on Lower Sproul Plaza. MyGrad is a festive event for grads to order their official Cal regalia, class ring, graduation announcements, and diploma frames. Discounted Grad Packs including a Cal Alumni Association membership will be offered during MyGrad.

Honor Cords for Undergraduates

The Department will provide Honor Cords to eligible undergraduate Social Welfare majors. Cords will be distributed at our annual Haviland Scholars Day event on Friday, May 10, 2019.

Graduation Photography

GradImages is the official campus photographer for commencement. Approximately 24 hours after the ceremony you will receive information from them on how to access your proofs and order your commencement photos. GradImages sends both email notifications and mails paper proofs to the address they have on file for you. You may also preregister your contact information with GradImages to receive your proofs, and receive a discount on any orders. Links to the preregistration site will be available here soon.

Guest and Visitor Information

ADA Accessibility for Guests

Please be sure to communicate any special accommodation needs you or your guests may have when you RSVP for Commencement.

We will provide the Zellerbach house staff with a list of participants and guests requiring special assistance in advance. We strongly encourage you to inform guests who use a wheelchair or have other special seating/accommodation needs to arrive 15 minutes prior to the doors opening to the general audience. Cal Performances ushers will greet guests requiring ADA assistance at about 6:15 p.m., and will assist your guests with seating in the auditorium.

Parking and Transportation

Reserved parking is not available for commencement and we encourage you take public transportation. If you choose to drive, please refer to the campus map for directions.

During commencements at Berkeley, Student "S" Permit areas will be open to the public at the hourly rate. Purchase parking from the "Pay by Space" dispensing machine. Parking and Transportation will also sell parking for Zellerbach Auditorium at the following locations:

Coming to Berkeley

For information about where to stay, dine and sight-see in the City of Berkeley, please see Visit Berkeley.

Degrees and Diplomas

Students will not receive their diploma on the day of the ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed by the Office of the Registrar approximately 3.5 months after the ceremony. For more information please see Transcripts and Diplomas.

Posting of MSW Degrees

MSW degrees are expected to be posted to students' transcripts no earlier than June 15. The degree conferral date is May 18, 2019. For information regarding requirements and the process for LCSW licensure in California, please visit the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

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Resources for Current Students

Berkeley Social Welfare offers a variety of advising resources to help guide students through their academic program, the Berkeley campus and into the world of social work. The following web resources are frequently accessed by current Social Welfare students.

Join Berkeley Social Welfare

The School of Social Welfare Admissions Office guides prospective graduate applicants via online resources, in-person and phone advising, group presentations and recruitment events. Find out more about Berkeley Social Welfare’s application requirements and admission process.

The School of Social Welfare is a place that brings together people with some incredible aspirations and connects them with knowledgeable, profound professors and incredible staff.

- James Orlando (MSW ’11),
Berkeley Social Welfare Alumni

Academic Programs

Berkeley Social Welfare trains our students for a range of leadership, research, teaching and practice roles in the profession. Students are prepared to practice at specific intervention levels and are thoroughly grounded in the knowledge of social and psychological concerns, social welfare policies and social service organizations.

The collaborative opportunities both within and outside the School of Social Welfare are outstanding, the academic environment is rich and challenging and the location can't be beat.

- Aron Shlonsky (PhD ’02),
Berkeley Social Welfare alumni

Field Education

As students develop their applied mastery in one of over 350 carefully selected field placements, Berkeley Social Welfare field education consultants provide them with individualized assessment, support and coaching throughout their academic journey.

My internships at the School helped me realize that I had the skills to be a leader, a manager and a systems-thinker. I learned as much about myself at UC Berkeley as I did about social welfare.

- Ericka Leer (MSW ’05),
Berkeley Social Welfare alumna

Research

UC Berkeley’s world-class faculty and research units can be leveraged to conduct studies that make a difference. Berkeley Social Welfare faculty lead a number of research units, and the School houses the California Child Welfare Indicators Project and the California Social Work Education Center. To learn more about the important work and cutting-edge research taking place at the School of Social Welfare, explore our specialized Research Areas and Research Units.

Programs

Berkeley Social Welfare houses several programs designed to provide educational and training opportunities to social work students and professionals; contribute impactful research informing service delivery; and foster relationships among institutions, students and service providers in California, the United States and throughout the globe.

People

The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare's pre-eminent faculty rank top in the nation in per capita productivity. Nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in their fields, our senate faculty conducts cutting-edge research on the major issues facing California, the US and the world. Berkeley Social Welfare field faculty represent a diversity of experience and talents, training and preparing our students to excel as the next generation of social work practitioners, professionals and educators.

People

The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare's pre-eminent faculty rank top in the nation in per capita productivity. Nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in their fields, our senate faculty conducts cutting-edge research on the major issues facing California, the US and the world. Berkeley Social Welfare field faculty represent a diversity of experience and talents, training and preparing our students to excel as the next generation of social work practitioners, professionals and educators.

People

The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare's pre-eminent faculty rank top in the nation in per capita productivity. Nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in their fields, our senate faculty conducts cutting-edge research on the major issues facing California, the US and the world. Berkeley Social Welfare field faculty represent a diversity of experience and talents, training and preparing our students to excel as the next generation of social work practitioners, professionals and educators.